Monthly Archives: June 2012

What I am about to say comes from over 30 years of experience in the industry.

Most people go to a dealers school. Learn the games they are interested in and apply and audition at the casino that is interested in them.

In Las Vegas its usually a smaller casino off the strip. You will make less money and deal to lower bets than on the strip. Most casinos on the strip require some experience before they will hire you. Far less today than in years past.

Now for the plus and minus scenario. The positives about working in the casino biz are: Its an environment that is filled with a variety of people from every walk of life.

And it constantly changes! Other positives are that you are working in an air conditioned clean work place and most decent casinos feed you while at work too.

About the money. It can be good. It can range from $20,000 to $80,000 a year depending on your location. If you are a dealer most of this will come from tips not salary. Do not assume the tips will come. Learn how to make them! If you choose to become a floor supervisor you will only make a salary. No tips in today’s market.

A supervisor usually makes less than a dealer. Pit managers, which would be the next step. Followed by assistant shift managers and shift managers which all make very good salaries plus bonuses.

In most casinos dealers share their tips with each other. An example of this would be:

If there are 200 dealers that work in a 24 hour period? All 200 get an equal share. i.e. $20,000 in tips made divided by 200 dealers equals $100 per dealer. Some casinos allow dealers to keep their own tips. All poker dealers do this. You must still report the tips and pay taxes on them. A 401k program is offered to employees after their trial period is completed.

Now for the negatives: Your schedule will be the worst when you start.(Bottom of the tot-um pole) There are 3 main shifts in the casino. 12 noon till 8pm (Day shift), 8pm till 4am (Swing shift) 4 am till 12 noon (Graveyard shift). Your days off will not be Saturday and Sunday like a normal job. Every dealer gets the same hourly pay which is minimum wage if you are lucky. There is no shift differential pay. Also consider this: Its Christmas eve and you have to work. Its Thanksgiving day and you have to work. Its New Years eve and you have to work. Its Super bowl Sunday and you have to work!

In today’s market you will start and stay as a part time employee. It can take years if ever until you become full time. Your schedule can range from 2 to 4 shifts a week. And your days off will be split and you will not be allowed to work 32 hours a week. Why? Because they do not want to pay you health benefits. Only full time employees get benefits paid by the company. It can take years to be a full time employee if ever! Some major casinos tell you that you will NEVER be full time! I know several dealers that work at 2 casinos at the same time (part time) to make their bills. I do not know why casinos are permitted to hire only part time? This also applies to the floor supervisors seeking employment.

What about a pension? The answer is NO. There are no pensions offered in the casino business.

Seniority. If you have it? Its Great. If you don’t you will hate this word!

Seniority is the instrument that casinos use for everything. Your schedule is the best if you have seniority. You will get the table game you want to deal if you have seniority. If anybody? You will get health benefits if you have seniority. Promotions to full time from part time are based on seniority. Vacation time is accumulated at a faster rate if you are full time over part time employees. In a lot of casinos part time dealers do not get vacation time. But part of their tips each day goes to the full time dealers that do have vacation time when they take it. This is flat out unfair! It doesn’t matter if you are better at dealing than the next person. Talent and skills are not considered.

Welcome to the corporate world! With all this in mind its your decision. It’s a different kind of life. What do you want to do with yours?

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First you have to answer this question. Am I playing for fun or to WIN?

I hope the answer is to WIN! If it is you must set a goal. How much do you want to win? $200-$2,000? You must then strategically select the table you will play at. (Read how in my book) Your selection could decide your fate before you even start.

You have to focus and implement your strategy ignoring the many distractions.

If you think you need help from the dealers? Make a bet for them next to yours and tell them its for them. Believe me they will be happy to help you!

As you are playing and should you start winning. You must increase your bets gradually at amounts that you are comfortable with. Using your winnings (the casinos money) to win more! Be patient not afraid.

Do not drink any cocktails while playing (unless you are playing for fun) Drinking while playing tends to give you added courage. You do not need. . .

Save the booze for the celebration after and dinner on them!

Try to take notice of repeating occurances. The same numbers coming out. A particular person rolling the dice longer. The mood at the table. (Do these people know what they are doing or just a bunch of idiots)? This all can matter.

Once you reach your goal. LEAVE! If you are still winning when you reach your goal?

Stay until you lose one bet. Just One! Then you know this session is over.

WALK AWAY. . .mission accomplished! If you stay too long your winnings can disappear fast. Do not force the issue just take what they give you.

Remember! Its your money! Educate yourself! You could change your luck for LIFE!

About casinos offering you a players card. They all do. Their reason is to offer you rewards. Hah! My suggestion is if you want one. Get one from a casino that has a lot of amenities with very nice accomadations that you might play at again with possible multiple locations.

My experience with casinos and their marketing practices is this: Most of the time you are better off paying cash. The amount of points they give you in relation to your play is a joke. Do not play to accumulate points! Play for the MONEY!

Sometimes. . .Sometimes. . . did I say Sometimes? The casino will send you an offer to stay at their hotel at a reduced rate. Plus if you are a card member they will give you a casino rate on the room. Always ask for this if they don’t offer it. This is a good deal.

But remember they are offering you something to get something…YOUR Money!

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You have decided to try and play craps.You arrive at the table and its pretty crowded. You look at the table layout and you see several bets everywhere. The dealers are busy setting up bets and getting ready for the next roll.

Suddenly the stickman pushes the dice to a player and they roll the dice down the table. The stickman yells six easy six. The dealers start moving bets around and paying players their winning bets. And you are wandering what the heck is going on? All the winning bets are paid and the stickman gives the dice to the shooter and they roll again. The stickman yells winner eight came easy! Everybody starts yelling all at once and they are getting paid! Everybody!

You say to yourself “This looks like Fun I want to play” ! This is how you get started…

Make sure the dice are in the center of the table. Get the attention of one of the dealers and throw your money down in the “Come Area” on the layout and say change.

The dealer will take your money and give you the appropriate amount of chips. You then pick them up and place them in the rail of the table in front of you. You are now ready to play.

There are many strategies an various bets to make in craps. Don’t worry about knowing all thats going on yet. You are just learning. All you have to know is how YOUR bets win or lose.

When starting out most people will play the pass line and maybe a place bet or two and some will play the field. If there is no established point marked? Then we are starting. I suggest you make a $10 bet on the pass line. When the dice are being rolled you must keep your hands out of the way.
This is important! You never want the dice to hit your hand. . .never!

So, the shooter rolls the dice and they roll a seven. All pass line bets win when a seven or eleven roll on the first roll. You win! (If a two,three or twelve rolls you lose and will have to make another bet quickly). On the next roll the shooter rolls a nine. The dealers mark the nine with a puck and that becomes the number you need to win your pass line bet. You need another nine before a seven to win. There may be 100 bets on the layout? You only have one. Don’t worry we are going to make a couple more. If you want to? You don’t have to until you feel comfortable.

I would suggest when playing craps that you make a place bet on both the numbers six and eight.

These numbers are most likely to roll. So when the dice are in the center of the table put down in the come area $24 and tell the dealer you want to place the 6 and 8 for $12 each. The dealer will put your chips on the 6 and 8 boxes in your spot pertaining to your location on the table. You now have 3 bets to keep track of. A pass line bet and 2 place bets.

Every time a six or eight is rolled while the shooter is trying to roll the nine for a pass line winner.

You will win because you have a bet on them. You can always ask for a place bet back if you want to.

Just tell the dealer to take them down. Every time a 6 or 8 is rolled you will win $14 for your $12 bet.

You cannot take down the pass line bet. It must stay until there is a decision made good or bad.

If the shooter rolls the nine before a seven you will win your pass line bet and your place bets will stay where they are. They will go back into play after the shooter establishes their next point.

Some beginners will play the field. For one bet you get the seven different numbers that compose the field area for the next roll Only! This looks like a good bet but its not. I would avoid betting the field unless you notice the numbers in the field are constantly coming out. Betting the field all the time is not recommended. Most veteran players never play the field.

This is enough for today.You now know enough to get your feet wet. If you want to learn the entire game and impress your friends? Read my book!

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You are walking in for the first time! You see people everywhere. Your eye movement increases.

You are trying to take it all in? You see people walking,playing card games,slot machines are everywhere it seems.

There are people in the sportsbook betting on their favorite teams.

You walk by the craps table and suddenly everybody starts screaming! Why? They must have all just won? There are people from every walk of life here. There are beautiful women and handsome men in every direction.

You are still walking and you are seeing the casino bars,night club entrances and restaurants Galore!Then you see a poker room and all the tables going. You think “Thats a popular game” maybe I’ll trythat later?

You are still walking and trying to retain all this new information. Now you arrive at the shopping area and see 100’s of shops with every different flavor. Whats next? Its the POOL area! Its gigantic and beautiful! Full of hard bodies tanning,swimming,drinking and generally having a GREAT time!

You realize that this place is full of fun. That you are not in Kansas. You are in Las Vegas! The entertainment capital of the WORLD!

Are you intimidated? Or ready to dive in? Its up to you! There is something for everybody here!